Locking detachable joint.



B. ROTHSGH'ILD.- LOGKIG DETAGHABLE JOINT. APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 24, 190e.

Patented June 22; 1909.

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dl/v'meoom BENJAMIN ROTHSCHILD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LOCKING DETACHABLE JOINT.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 22, 1909.

Application led June 24, 1908. Serial No. 440,201.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN ROTHS- CHILD, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Detachable Joints, of which the following is a specification.

T 0 remove the handle of an umbrella frequently becomes desirable for the purpose of reducing its length for packing and to render it less attractive to thieves when left in a public place.

To this end, the present invention pro vides a device for attaching the umbrella handle to the main rod or staff so that it may be easily and conveniently detached and replaced. rllhis device is a joint by means of which the handle and staff, or any two rods, may be secured to each other at their ends and maintained in alinement, and, at the same time, held against relative rotation. Although this joint is particularly adapted for use in securing the handle of an umbrella to the staff, or supporting rod, it may be variously applied, as in making the umbrella point removable, or in the manufacture of fishing rods, canes, etc.

In its preferred embodiment, my invention consists of a rod terminating at one end in a tube, a second rod shaped at one end to enter the tube and t the aperture therein, a key projecting from the entering portion of the rod, the tube being slotted longitudinally to receive the key, a locking ring mounted on the tube to rotate relatively thereto and slotted to permit the key to pass, and a latch by means of which the locking ring may, at the will of the operator, be held in registration with the slot of the tube to permit the keyed extremity of the rod to be freely inserted and withdrawn from the tube. The latch is also adapted to hold the locking ring in position with its slot remote from the slot of the tube, so that the passage of the key is obstructed and the two rods are rigidly joined.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention:

Figure l is a central longitudinal section of the joint. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the locking ring. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4f is a detail of the positioning device 0r latch. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the positioning spring compressed. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same expanded.

Fig. 1 shows two rods attached at their extremities by means of the joint of my invention. Either member of the joint may be mounted on either rod. The upper rod 1 in the figure will be termed the handle, or handle rod, and the lower rod 2 the staff, or umbrella rod. The upper end of the umbrella rod is threaded and inserted in the tube or ferrule 3, and secured by a cooperating thread. The ferrule extends beyond the rod 2, as shown. The lower extremity 4 of the handle rod 1 is adapted to be inserted in the tube and shaped to fit the same. rIhe handle rod is provided at a suitable distance from its extremity witha collar 5 to limit the extent to which it may enter the ferrule. The portion 4 of the handle rod 1 below the collar, which will hereinafter be termed an insert, is provided with a key 6 projecting laterally therefrom, and the tube 3 is slotted longitudinally from its upper extremity at 20 to admit the key. The ferrule is provided with an 'external collar 7 encircling the same, and the outer circumference of thel collar is provided with an upright circular rim 8 spaced a slight distance from the outer surface of the ferrule. AV locking ring 9 encircles the ferrule, bearing againstpthe upper surface of the rim 8. This locking rim is of greater outside diameter than the collar 7 and roughened. It is of inverted L shaped cross-section, the horizontal arm of the L being an inwardly disposed flange which bears against the circumference of the ferrule. rIhe flange is slotted at 10 to permit the passage of the key 6. The inside diameter of the ring below the flange is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the upright rim 8, and the ring forms, with this rim, an annular chamber 21. A coil spring 11, having its extremities turned out radially, shown as consisting of but one and one-half helices, is placed in the chamber 21 with its extremities projecting through suitable vertical slots 12 placed to receive these extremities in the upright rim 8. The extremities of the s ring are shown as separated by an arc olf) 180, but may be otherwise placed.

It is apparent that while one extremity 13 of the spring 11 rests on the bottom of its slot 12, the other extremity 14, which will be termed a latch, is pressed upward against the lower edge of the locking ring 9. The wire of which the spring is composed is of circular cross-section and the lower edge of the locking ring is provided at 15 with two shallow notches in the form of an arc of a circle of depth less than on'ehalf the diameter of the wire of which the spring is formed. These notches are separated by any suitable arc, in this case equal to that between't-he slots 12 of the 'ferrule Each notch is adapted to receive the upperextremity 14 of tliespring to latch the lockingring, and

thevshape of the notches and latch is such that the ring resists a slight tendency to rotation, but is released and may be rotated:

when" suiiicient force is applied;

It is apparent that the latchy 14. engages each notch as it passes, thereby indicating the position of the locking ring. @ne notch 15- is so placed that whenit is engaged by the latch, the slotI 10 of the locking ring is' in registration' with the slot 6 so as to allow free passage of other notch is so placed that of the ferrule, the key. The when it is enr gaged by' the latch 121, the slot ofthe locking ring is remote from the slot ofv the tube and the passage of the key is obstructed.

The tube or ferrule 3 is reduced in diameter above the locking ring to receive the bearing ring 16 and iianged at its upper ex` tremit-y to retain the latter. This flange 17 a'ords a bearing surface for the handlerod, and the flange and collar are so placed that when the extremity t of the handle rod is inserted in the tube and the locking ring rotated so that its notch 10 is out of registration with the notch of the tube, the flange 18 of the locking ring engages the key and no longitudinal play of the joint ispermitted.

In the operation of my device, the extremity el" of the handle rod 1 is inserted in' the mouthy of the tube 3, the slot 2O of the ferrule. position with its slot 10 in registration with theY slot of the ferrule. This position is indicated and maintained by the latchlet which enters the corresponding notch 15.

the key 6 entering The ring 9 is in The rod 1 is advanced until the collar 5r rests against the flange 17. Suthcient force is' applied to the ring 9'tofover-come the resistance offered by the latch; the slot 10 is moved away from the slot 20, the key 6 is engaged by the flange 18 of the ring and its outward passage obstructed so that the joint is closed and locked. Rotation of the ring 9 is continued until the latch 1-1 engages the second notch 15: The resistance oifered by the latch is sufficient to prevent accidental rotation of the ring 9,' so'that the joint remains locked until suflicient forceis applied the collar 5 of on the ferrule to rotate relatively thereto', an

annular groove encircling the ferrule having its outer wall slotted vertically,

the notches of the ring as it is rotated and latches it in a plurality ofl positions,in one ofk which the slot of the ring is in registra* tion with the longitudinalslot of the ferrule.

2. In a device for detachably securing anL umbrella handle, a slotted ferrule, an:` insert having a key to enter the slot", av locking member mounted on the ferrule to rotate relatively thereto, and slotted to allow the key to pass, the4 ferrule provided with an annular chamber, one wall of which is slotf ted vertically, a helical spring in' the cham`V bei" having one end projecting through the slot and the other-'pressing against the bot`A tom ofv the chamber, whereby the protruding end is pressed against the locking member,

a notch in the face of the locking member adapted to'register with the slot in the chamber in lockingv osition and to. receive the' projecting end of the spring ring in locked position.

3. In a device for detachably securing an umbrella handle, a slotted having a key to enter the slot, a locking ring mounted on the ferrule to rotate relatively thereto, and slotted toallow the key to pass,- the' fer-rule provided' with an annular groove, one wall of which is slotted vertically, covholding the ered by the locking ring to form a chamber, a spring in the chamber having' one end the slot and pressing,

projecting through against the locking member, a notch in the tace of the locking member adapted to-register with the slot in the groove tion'and' receive the end of the springA holding the ring in locked position.

4. In a device for detaohably securing an umbrella handle, av slotted ferule, anA insert having a key to enter the slot, a locking ring mounted on the ferrule to rotate relatively thereto, and slotted to allow the key to pass,

and means for locking the ring in both5 locked and unlocked position.

5. In a device for detachably securing anV umbrella handle, a slotted ferrule, airinserthaving a keytoenter the slot, a locking ring mounted on the' ferrule to rotate relatively a spring in-r the groove having' its extremities extendingy through the slots so that while one rests in the bottom of its slot, the other is impelled` in the opposite direction so that it engages' ferrule, an' insertl in locked posi-v thereto and slotted to allow the key to pass, and unlocked position of the ring', whereby 10 the ferrule provided with an annular groove, the latter is held in both positions.

one side of Which is slotted, the groove eov- Signed by me at Baltimore, Md., this 15th ered by the locking Igng to form L Chamber, day of May 1908.

a sprino' in the cham er having one end protrudingb through the slot and pressing against BENJAMIN ROTHSCHILD the locking ring, the latter being provided lVitnesses:

with notches in its face adapted to register ARMSTEAD M. WEBB, with the slot in the groove both in the locked B. SCHROETER. 

